オキチョビー湖のおすすめウォーキング＆ハイキングルート

Roughly ten miles east of Clewiston, John Stretch Park offers one of the most inviting rest spots along the southern rim of Lake Okeechobee. Shaded picnic tables, restrooms, and potable water make it a convenient break on a long, exposed stretch of trail. From its grassy banks, you’ll get a broad view of the lake and surrounding levee—a calm, open place to pause before continuing west.

Hike along the Herbert Hoover Dike, a 143-mile earthen dam going around Lake Okeechobee and out to the Kissimmee-Okeechobee-Everglades system. This dam, designed to reduce flooding in south Florida, has had over $870 million in safety improvements since 2001. The best views of Lake Okeechobee can be seen from here.

Hike along the Herbert Hoover Dike, a 143-mile earthen dam going around Lake Okeechobee and out to the Kissimmee-Okeechobee-Everglades system. The Lake Okeechobee Scenic Trail (LOST) circles Lake Okeechobee, spanning 110 miles. This trail was designated as part of the Florida National Scenic Trail in 1993, and more than half of it is now paved.

Nubbin Slough Trailhead and Boat Launch is a great place to park and begin an adventure, whether it's dropping your boat and getting out on Lake Okeechobee, taking a hike on the Okeechobee Scenic Trail, or checking out Nubbin Slough. Be sure to take a look into the water, as manatees can be spotted here during the right season.

Here, a river runs off of the Kissimmee River. Cross a bridge and get some scenic views over this freshwater river.

Herbert Hoover Dike is a long stretch of the Florida Trail, following a dirt road next to the Kissimmee River, which enters Okeechobee Lake. It also intersects the Lake Okeechobee Scenic Trail. This area is vital to historical flood control.

Lake Okeechobee offers a unique experience as Florida's largest freshwater lake and the tenth-largest in the U.S. It spans 730 square miles but is only about 9 feet deep, it’s too vast to see across and is fed primarily by the Kissimmee River. The lake touches Glades, Okeechobee, Martin, Palm Beach, and Hendry counties, all meeting near its center. Historically, the Calusa called it "Mayaimi," meaning "big water." The name "Okeechobee" comes from Hitchiti words for "water" and "big".

Loxahatchee Slough is a river and protected wetlands area in Palm Beach County. There are 9 native Florida ecosystems that are preserved along the length of the river.